Almuth Schult cannot comprehend why Antonio Rüdiger is repeatedly selected for the national team.
Former Germany international goalkeeper Almuth Schult is utterly unimpressed with Antonio Rüdiger’s presence in the DFB squad.
Appearing on Sport1’s «Doppelpass» on Sunday, Schult expressed her bewilderment regarding the lack of repercussions: «If Julian Nagelsmann says he’s on probation: What more needs to happen for that probation to turn into a punishment? That strikes me.» The Olympic gold medalist emphasized that while a certain degree of emotionality is acceptable, it should never escalate into «hatred, insults, or discrimination.»
Rüdiger, who plays for Real Madrid, has repeatedly drawn negative attention off the pitch in the past: from insulting fans and officials, to the controversial ‘head-cut-off gesture,’ and an incident in the Copa del Rey final where he threw an object at the referee, resulting in a six-match ban. Furthermore, a brutal foul in a match against FC Getafe caused widespread outrage.
Following a contentious incident during the «Clásico,» some observers even called for Rüdiger’s expulsion from the national team. However, Julian Nagelsmann opted for a different approach, putting him «on probation.» Nagelsmann stated emphatically: «The limit has been reached. He shouldn’t allow himself any more incidents, otherwise there will be more significant consequences.»
Schult: «He Probably Doesn’t Have Him in His Sights»
Schult expressed her irritation that no consequences have followed despite Nagelsmann’s warning: «If you truly have someone ‘in your sights,’ then you must be consistent and leave him out of the squad sometimes. But apparently, he doesn’t have him closely monitored. He’s even vice-captain, which bothers me immensely.»
Athletically, Rüdiger’s season at Real Madrid hasn’t been ideal. Recurring injuries have repeatedly set the central defender back, limiting him to just 18 appearances for the «Blancos» so far. Within the German national team, he currently ranks behind Jonathan Tah and Nico Schlotterbeck in the hierarchy.
On Monday, Rüdiger is expected to feature with the German team in a friendly match against Ghana (8:45 PM).
Antonio Rüdiger: Performance Statistics for the 2025/26 Season
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Matches | 18 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Minutes Played | 1,515 |